Spalding RFC’s senior men’s side return to competitive action on Saturday with a derby clash against Boston.
Town will be competing in a mini competition organised by the NLD, with Lincolnshire neighbours Boston and Sleaford the opposition.
The opening fixture is at Boston on Saturday (3pm) and will be the Elephants’ first competitive fixture since the COVID-19 pandemic halted all rugby back in March, 2020.
Spalding, now under the leadership of skipper Luke Turner, convincingly beat Boston 44-0 in a friendly game last month.
- Spalding RFC’s Colts ended a stop-start campaign with a 34-15 victory at West Norfolk.
On the day, both sides agreed to field a combined 16/17 year age side with the focus on next season.
Spalding’s young guns started well and went ahead when George Watts went past two defenders to score in the corner.
A kick through then enabled Freddie Fitzpatrick to cut through the back line and, despite a determined chase by West Norfolk, he was able to apply positive downward pressure on the ball and the try was given.
Matthew Lines completed the conversion to give Spalding a 12-0 lead, but unfortunately they lost Max Baker and Riley Carnell to injury.
Another passage of play continued with both sets of forwards at a stalemate, but West Norfolk were starting to make progress to the Spalding line and, despite fierce defending by Will Stevenson, Tom Payne, Theo Briston, Noah Cooke, Tom Wand, Seth Cardew and many others, a try was scored by the hosts.
Spalding came back strongly and Watts scored his second try of the match and, although the conversion was missed, the visitors still led 17-5.
The hosts broke through and scored with a try next to the posts, but Freddie Fitzpatrick hit back to make the score 22-10 before West Norfolk replied with their final score of the match.
The next try by Spalding was the best of the match though as it was scored after a combination of four swift passes down the line by the backs with the ball finally ending in the capable hands of Theo Briston who skilfully ballerina-stepped two defenders at very high speed to run in the try.
The final try of the match was scored by Tom Payne and the conversion completed by Matthew Lines to seal the success.
